Have Man City or Man Utd benefited more from referees this season?
Which of the title contenders has come off better from questionable decisions?
Share 47 reddit this
Guardian staff
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 29 March 2012 17.35 BST
Article history
Manchester City's football development executive, Patrick Vieira, says referees give Manchester United preferential treatment. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/PA
Manchester City's Patrick Vieira claims Manchester United have benefited from generous refereeing this season but both teams have had decisions go for and against them.
For Manchester United
26 March 2012 – Manchester United 1-0 Fulham
In the 89th minute Fulham's Danny Murphy burst into the United area and went down under a Michael Carrick challenge. It appeared a clear penalty but the referee, Michael Oliver, waved play on.
4 March 2012 – Tottenham 1-3 Manchester United
The match was scoreless when Emmanuel Adebayor bundled the ball into the net. Martin Atkinson ruled it out for handball but it was a close call. Louis Saha's shot struck Adebayor in the stomach and he was unable to move his hand out of the way in time.
5 February 2012 – Chelsea 3-3 Manchester United
Even though Wayne Rooney had pulled a goal back, United were trailing 3-1 with 22 minutes to go. Then Daniel Welbeck went to ground and Howard Webb gave a penalty despite the fact that the United striker appeared to make initial contact with Branislav Ivanovic. Rooney converted the spot kick and Javier Hernández grabbed a late equaliser.
Against Manchester United
26 November 2011 – Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United
Rio Ferdinand won the ball cleanly from Hatem Ben Arfa but Newcastle were awarded a penalty, from which Demba Ba scored the equaliser.
24 September 2011 – Stoke City 1-1 Manchester United
United arguably should have had a penalty, and Stoke had Jonathan Woodgate sent off, early in the game for a tackle on Hernández.
18 September 2011 – Manchester United 3-1 Chelsea
Phil Dowd, turned down a penalty appeal in the 77th minute because he judged the ball had just gone out of play before Ashley Cole caught and injured Hernández with his challenge.
For Manchester City
24 March 2012 – Stoke City 1-1 Manchester City
Gareth Barry escaped both a booking and conceding a penalty for a high challenge on Glenn Whelan.
4 February 2012 – Manchester City 3-0 Fulham
Adam Johnson went to ground after the merest hint of a tackle from Chris Baird. Sergio Aguëro converted the penalty.
22 January 2012 – Manchester City 3-2 Tottenham
Mario Balotelli scored the winner late into injury time but earlier the Italian had got away with a stamp on Scott Parker and should have received a red card.
Against Manchester City
31 January 2012 – Everton 1-0 Manchester City
City felt they should have had two penalties: one for Phil Neville's handball and one for Tim Howard clattering into Joleon Lescott
1 January 2012 – Sunderland 1-0 Manchester City
Sunderland snatched the winner in the last minute but Ji Dong-won appeared to be offside.
12 December 2011 – Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City
City were 1-0 up when José Boswinga fouled David Silva in the area but Mark Clattenburg declined to give the penalty.
